Spotted Sandpiper

This species is as remarkable for perpetually wagging the tail, as some others are for nodding the head; for, whether running on the ground or on the fences, along the rails or in the water, this motion seems continual; even the young, as they are freed from the shell, run about constantly wagging the tail...The flight of this bird is usually low, skimming along the surface of the water, its long wings making a considerable angle downwards from the body, while it utter a rapid cry of weet, weet, weet, as it flutters along, seldom steering in a direct line up or down the river, but making a long circuitous sweep, stretching a great way out, and gradually bending in again to the shore.